Photographic still cameras with built-in flash



D. E. BEACH Nov. 21, 1967 PHOTOGRAPHIC STILL CAMERAS WITH BUILT-IN FLASH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed y 2 1965 DAVID E- BEACH BY l W 5/4 4 ATTORNEYS FIG-'4 Nov. 21, 1967 D. E. BEACH 3,353,468

PHOTOGRAPHIC STILL CAMERAS WITH BUILT-IN FLASH Filed May 24, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 DAVID E- BEACH I I INVENTOR. 76 In: 77 BY 57 54 7e AT TORNEYS United States Patent 3,353,468 PHGTOGRAPHIC STILL CAMERAS WITH BUILT-IN FLASH David E. Beach, Rochester, N.Y., assignor to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed May 24, 1965, Ser. No. 458,016 2 Claims. (Cl. 95-115) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Photographic apparatus such as a still camera having a rotatable socket to receive a multilamp flash unit, the socket being rotatable to selected operating positions by a manual override or in response to camera film wind through a clutch and indexing control mechanism.

The present invention relates to photographic still apparatus, and more particularly, to apparatus with built-in flash systems for receiving a unitary package containing a plurality of photofiash lamps and individual reflectors.

There has been developed a unitary, disposable multilamp photoflash package disclosed, for example, in applications .for United States letters patent, Franklin D. Kottler et al., Ser. No. 417,914, now Patent No. 3,327,- 105, and Dean M. Peterson et al., Ser No. 417,913, both filed Dec. 14, 1964. The present invention comprises a compact and reliable mechanism for receiving and automatically indexing such a package to successively place unused photoflash lamps in a camera photofiash circuit for augmenting scene light in timed relation with camera operation.

Apparatus such as a roll film camera having a mechanism according to the invention suitably includes a rotatable socket for receiving a multilamp package, a means to position the socket with one lamp of the package in the photoflash circuit, a release element actuated by camera operation to permit socket rotation, and a drive and indexing mechanism operatively connecting the socket and the film winding mechanism to rotate the socket and place successive others of the lamps in the photoflash circuit as the film is being wound. According to the preferred embodiment, the socket includes a socket cover having an access opening for insertion of a multilamp package, a ribbed base and spring to rigidly retain the package in the base, and a keyed friction clutch connecting the socket to the drive mechanism to drive the socket or to rotate the socket relative to the drive means, as desired. The drive mechanism may itself comprise a compact slip clutch arrangement operatively connected to the film wind gearing.

Further, there is provided a slidable ejection ring surrounding the socket to eject an inserted package, and an ejection yoke to operate the ring. Adjustment of the camera operating means for flash may also be provided.

An important object of the present invention resides, therefore, in the provision of a new and improved photographic still camera having a compact mechanism to receive and automatically index disposable multilamp photoflash units or packages.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of improved multilamp package receiving socket including means to permit selective ejection of an inserted package.

And another object of the invention resides in providing a roll film camera with a compact drive mechanism operated during film wind to selectively rotate the socket and package to successively place the photoflash lamps of the package in a photoflash circuit as the film is wound.

Yet another object resides in the provision of a drive 3,353,468 Patented Nov. 21, 1967 mechanism controlled by the film wind gearing and including a slip clutch and latching arrangement to provide for proper indexing of the socket and package irrespective of the total Winding required for the roll film.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent in the course of the following description, the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a photographic still camera embodying the present invention and including a multilamp package or unit inserted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the camera with the multilamp package removed;

FIG. 3 is a simplified perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross section of the novel socket arrangement, as taken on line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing the various elements of the socket arrangement;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section of the drive mechanism and package ejection arrangement;

FIGS. 7 and 8 show two stages of operation of the release and indexing features; and

FIGS. 9 and 10 respectively show top and side views of an alternate arrangement of the indexing mechanism to insure proper socket positioning.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a camera embodying the present invention comprises a light-tight housing 10 in which roll film is typically exposed by successively positioning frame portions of the film on the film plane of a picture taking axis 11. Exposure is made through a light aperture on the axis 11 by focusing an image of a scene on the film plane by an objective lens 12 for a predetermined time period. Operation of the camera is accomplished by depressing an accessible body release button 13, which operates a shutter and aperture control mechanism in a known manner. Winding of the roll film to successively position the film frames on the film plane is accomplished by means of a winding lever 14 accessible from the back of the camera housing 10.

On the top wall of housing 10 is located a socket assembly 15 for receiving a multilamp photoflash package 16 with a selected one of a plurality of flash lamps 17 facing in the direction of the picture taking axis 11.

The multilamp package or unit 16, as is more fully described in the applications referred to above, comprises a plurality (four) of miniature photoflash lamps 17 of known manufacture (AG variety) ordinately mounted on a rotatable base 18 abount a vertical axis of rotation defined by a depending center post 19. The center post 19 has a hollow cylindrical shape and includes four radially extending lugs 20 having upper and lower ramped surfaces engageable with retaining means in a receiving socket arrangement.

The base 18 defines four lamp sides at which the lamps 17 are located, and disposed behind each lamp 17 is a dish-shaped light reflector 21 of preformed sheet material to provide the desired light emission pattern. A light transmitting protective cover 22 of cubic shape is fixed to the base and overlies the lamps 17 and reflectors 21 to enclose the package.

An annular contact ring 23, coaxial with the center post 19, extends below the base 18. Pairs of lead-in wires 24, 25 from each photoflash lamp 17 pass through the base 18 and are wrapped vertically around the contact ring 23 for selective electrical connection by engagement with the terminals of a flash synchronizing circuit to fire the flash lamp in timed relation with camera operation in a known manner.

Located within the camera housing 10 are the elements of the multilamp flash package advancement mechanism '2 U operable to receive and selectively advance an inserted multilamp package during fiim wind.

Mounted at the top wall of the camera housing is the receiving socket assembly 15, which is formed ofan upper portion 27 and a lowerportion 28, a part of whichis telescoped into the upper portion 27 and fixed thereto (FIG. 4). The upper portion 27 defines an access opening shaped as shown to permit insertion of the connecting post 19 and retaining lugs 20 of a multilamp package 16 in any one of'four preselected positions in which one fiashlamp 17 faces in the direction of the picture taking axis 11.

The lower vsocket portion 28 also defines slots 30 aligned with the access opening of the upper portion 27. The top surface of the lower portion 28-further defines a raised rectangular boss 31 about which is positioned a square shaped hair spring 32. The resilient arms of the spring 32 overlie a pair of opposing slots 30*for lateral movement outwardly and engagement with a pair of opposing retaining lugs 20 of an attached package.

Fitting within the slots 30 of the lower socket portion 28 is a four legged plate spring having a center opening through which is mounted a stabilizing stud 33fixed to I a shaft 34 by threading or the like. As may be seen in FIG. 4, the plate spring 35 is held down by a collar on the stud 33, and the spring legs act against the bottom socket portion 28 to urge the bottom portion'downwardly. Both the socket portion 28 and spring 35 are, however, free to rotate relative to stud 33.

The socket assembly 15 is spaced from the top wall of the housing 10 to define anannular recess 29 which receives the contact ring 23 of an inserted flash unit 16. A pair of contact terminals 36, 37 of a suitable flash synchronizing circuit are disposed at the front of the recess 29 to engage the lead-in wires 24, 25 of the forward facing-lamp 17, thereby placing the forward lamp17 in the flash circuit.

To attach a multilamp package 16, the center-post 19 of the package is inserted into the socket access opening with the stabilizing stud 33 fitting into the center post 19. During insertion, the lower ramped surfaces of an opposingpair of retaining lugs 32 urge the arms of the re turning spring 20' outwardly until the packageldis fully seated. At, this time the springarms spring inwardly over the upper ramped surfaces of the opposing lugs 20 to firmly retain the package .16 in the socket assembly 15.

Encircling the upper socket portion 27 is an annular ejector ring 38 which is vertically slideable relative to thesocket to engage the lower edge of the contact ring 23 and;th ereby eject the packagefrom the socket. The ejector ring 38 is controlled from the below by a bifurcated ejector yoke 39 which fits on both sides of the ring 38 atthebifurcated end under a suitable collar formed in the ejector ring 38. The yoke is pivotably mounted-by an integral pin 40 (FIG. 6) to a fixed mechanism plate'26 within thehousing 10. The other end of yoke 39' is engaged by the lower end of an ejector button 41 which is accessible from the top wall of the camera housing 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A compression spring 42 mounted between the button 41 and yoke 39 urges the button 41 upwardly against the top camera wall and further urges the bifurcated end of yoke 39 upwardly against the ejector ring 38 to eliminate play.

One leg 43 of the bifurcated end of'ejection yoke 39 has an extension to engage a movable member -44 forming part of aknown camera operating control mechanism, such as a shutter speed change or a diaphragm adjustment mechanism. For example, the member 44 may be biased by ,a control spring to a daylight operation position -(to the right as seen in FIG. 6) in which the camera mechanism is set for daylight or automatic exposure control. Insertion of a fiash' package 16 moves the ejection ring 38 and yoke 39 downwardly to thereby move the member 44 against the spring bias to a flash exposure control position (to the left in FIG. 6). An

frame after each exposure. The take-up spool 45 is operatively connected to a film wind gear 46.which is selectively rotated in the direction of the arrow by a winding rack 47. The winding lever arm 14, accessible from outside the camera body may be formed integrally with the rack to move the rack to the left as shownin FIG. 3 (to the right in FIG. 2) against the bias of a rack return spring and thereby wind film onto spool 45. Metering notches in the film or suitable frame numbers visible through a window in the back of the camera housing 10 may be used to indicate when the next successive unexposed frame of film is positioned on the film plane.

The film wind gear 46 is formed to define an annular recessed bearing surface 48 in its top surface, the center line of which intersects the axis of rotation of the socket assembbly 15 and inserted flash package 16. A pivot idler pin 49 of circular shape 'fits Within the surface 43 to define a lower rotational bearing surface for the shaft 34. Integral and coaxial with film wind gear 46 is a socketindexing drive gear 59 which meshes with a driven gear 51. The lower face surface of gear 51 forms a friction clutch surface with the upper face of a friction clutch plate 52 fixed to the shaft 34.

Thus, rotation of the film gear 46 through rack 4-7 causes simultaneous rotation of drive gear 5% and driven gear-51. The rotation of the driver gear is then transmitted to shaft 34 by the friction clutch plate 52 until the frictional'engagement of'the clutch is overcome. A hearing 53, mounted on the fixed mechanism plate 26, permits stable-rotation of the shaft 34.

In order to selectively rotate the socket assembly 15 and inserted package '16 to place the lamps 17 in the flash circuit, there is provided a latching and release mechanismsdesigned to control therotational motion from film wind. In this respect, a socket cam 54 is located-below the lower portion 28 of the socket assembly 15. Cam 54 is keyed to shaft 34 for rotation therewith and includes fouriequiespaced radial'detent grooves'55 in its upper surface. Correspondingly, the lower surface of the lower portion 28 including mating curved lobes 56 engageable with the grooves 55. The engaging grooves and lobes couple the cam 54 and socket assembly 15 to transfer therotational motion of the slip. clutch mechanism through the shaft 34 and keyed cam 54'to the socket assembly 15. Suflicient torque applied-directly to the socket 15, however, as by grasping and turning an inserted package 16 by hand, resultsin lobes56 raising the socket 15 against the bias of plate spring 35 thereby permittingmanual rotation of the socket assembly without distrubing the winding and indexing mechanism.

The cam 54 further includes a reduced step portiondefining four radial indexing slots 57 equi-spaced on the periphery of the step portion as extensions of grooves 55. A metering pawl 58 pivotable about afixed pivot 59 on the mechanism plate 26 includes a metering lug 60 selectively engageable with the slots 57. The metering pawl 58 defines an elongated slot 64 cooperating with pivot 59, and a tension spring fil biases the pawl lug '60 into selective engagement with-the slots'57 and along the periphery of the cam in a direction opposite to the .cam rotation (down in FIGS. 7 and 8).

A separate latch lever 62 may also be provided, the latch lever 62 pivoted for rotational motion only about pivot 59 and including a lug 63 engageable with the slots 57. A latch spring 65 urgesla'tch lever 62 toward the cam for selective engagement of lug 63 with the slots 57. A control lug 66 at the movable end of latch'62 is engaged by metering pawl 58 to move the latch lever 62 against the spring bias whenever the metering pawl is moved against its spring bias (clockwise in FIGS. 7 and 8). Movement of the metering pawl 58 is controlled through a lug 67 on the pawl 58 engaged by end 69 of a metering lever 68. Lever 68 is pivoted about a pivot 70, and its movement in turn is controlled through a lug 71 on lever 72 moved in response to an indexing release lever 7 Lever 72 is pivoted about 73 (counterclockwise in FIG. 3) to downward movement of the body release button 13. A tension spring 75 normally urges button 13 upward, which in turn urges the linked levers toward the positions shown in FIG. 3.

For camera operation with augmenting flash, a flash package 16 is inserted into the receiving socket assembly with an unused flash lamp 17 facing in the direction of the picture taking axis 11. As the package is inserted, the contact ring 23 urges ejection ring 38 and yoke 39 downwardly to set the exposure control mechanism for flash operation by movement of member 44 in response to the extended arm 43 of the ejection yoke 39. At this time both lugs 60, 63 are in engagement with the adjacent slot 57 to maintain the socket in position (FIG. 7).

Assuming the camera to be otherwise ready for operation, the camera is then aimed at the desired subject and the body release button 13 is depressed to operate the shutter mechanism and expose the frame of photosensi tive film on the film plane according to predetermined flash exposure values. In timed relation therewith the forward facing flash lamp 17, which is placed in the flash circuit by engagement with terminals 36, 37, is fired by the closing of a known shutter synchronizer switch.

Immediately before operation of the shutter mechanism, the release lever 72 acts in response to body release button 13 to move the metering lever 68 counterclockwise and thereby disengage the latch lug 63 and metering pawl lug 60 from the adjacent indexing slot. As this occurs, the pawl spring causes the metering pawl 58 to be displaced forwardly through its pivot slot 64 and prevent re-engagement of the pawl lug 69 into the adjacent slot 57. In like manner, latch lug 63 is prevented from re-engaging the slot 57 because of the control lug 66 (FIG. 8).

After the film exposure with augmenting flash, the film is then wound onto the film take-up spool 45 by the winding lever 14 until the next film frame is positioned on the picture taking axis 11. As the film wind drive gear 46 is rotating in the direction of the arrow to wind film, the integral clutch drive gear 50 rotates the socket assembly 15 through the operative drive connection described until the cam 54 (and socket assembly 15) has turned clockwise (FIG. 8) through a one quarter turn to place the next lamp 17 in the circuit. As the socket assembly 15 approaches the limit of rotation, the subsequent indexing notch 57 corresponding to the position of the next lamp 17 moves into alignment with the forwardly displaced metering pawl lug 60. The metering pawl lug 60 then engages the notch 57 by the urging of pawl spring 61, and the cam causes the pawl 58 to be moved back into the position shown in FIG. 7 as the socket assembly 15 completes the quarter turn. The latch lug 63 then engages the notch 57 by virtue of its spring bias, and the cam 54 and socket assembly 15 are latched in the position shown in FIG. 7 to prevent further rotation of the socket assembly. Further operation of the film winding mechanism to completely wind the subsequent frame of film onto the film plane causes the friction clutch (gear 51-plate 52) to slip, thereby permitting additional indeterminate rotation of the film spool 45 without further rotation of the socket assembly 15.

In the event that a lamp 17 other than the forward firing lamp is desired to be placed in the circuit, the package and socket assembly 15 may be grasped and rotated by hand to permit relative rotation of the socket assembly 15 and cam 54 as described and place any selected one of the flash lamps in the circuit without disturbing the film and socket drive mechanism. The latch lug 63 prevents rotation of the cam 54 in either direction until after camera operation to make an exposure as described.

After four complete flash pictures have been taken, or whenever daylight operation of the camera is desired, the package 16 may be removed by depressing the accessible ejection button 41 to pivot the yoke 39 and move ejector ring 38 upwardly against the package contact ring 23. The upper ramped surfaces of the engaged lugs 20 move the retaining spring arms outwardly to enable ejection of the package.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show an alternate construction of the socket cam arrangement to ensure exact alignment of the socket assembly 15 with the picture taking axis 11, thereby providing exact placement of the forward facing lamp 17 and reflector 21 in the photoflash circuit.

The alternate construction shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 comprises a socket cam 54 having four wedge-shaped teeth 76 positioned adjacent the indexing slots 57' (and grooves 55') as shown. A spring end 77 is engageable with the teeth 76 with a bias in the direction of the arrow to urge the cam 54 counterclockwise (FIG. 9) in an indexed position to prevent play between lug 60' of pivot 58 and the engaged indexing slot 57. Stops 78 and 79 are provided to prevent excessive spring motion. Whenever the cam 54 is rotated clockwise during film wind, the engaged tooth 76 moves the spring end 77 against its bias for engagement with a fixed control cam 80 to cause the spring end 77 to release the engaged tooth 76 and return to a position enabling it to engage the next tooth 76. Of course, whenever pawl 58' is provided with an elongate pivot slot as in the preferred embodiment, a corresponding latch lever (as 62 in FIG. 7) would prevent counterclockwise rotation during engagement of a slot 57'.

While this invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it is obvious that changes can be made and variations resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A receiving socket assembly to accept unitary multilamp photoflash packages having a base with retaining lug means and a plurality of photoflash lamps with individual reflectors, the assembly comprising:

a socket portion to receive the retaining means of a multilamp photoflash package and defining slot means to receive the lug means,

spring means mounted in the socket means engaging the lug means to retain the package in a fixed position relative to the socket portion,

a mechanism to rotate the socket and retained package to successively place the lamps of the retained package in a photoflash circuit, and

means overriding the rotating mechanism to provide manual rotation of the socket portion and retained package by grasping and manually turning the retained package.

2. A socket assembly according to claim 1 and further comprising manually operable ejection means adjacent the socket portion to selectively eject a received package, the ejector means including a slidable ring encircling the socket portion and a manually controlled ejector yoke operatively engaging the ring to engage the base of a retained package and urge the package from the socket assembly.

3. In a roll film camera having means to wind film to successively place frames of film on a picture taking axis, the combination comprising a rotatable socket portion to receive and retain a unitary package containing a plurality of photoflash lamps and individual reflectors in a fixed position relative thereto; and means operatively connecting the film wind means and socket portion to t; operatively rotate the socket portion and received package through selected positions to successively place the photoflas'h lamps at .a photoflash synchronizing circuit location with corresponding film frames for flashing the lamps in timed relation with camera operation, the operative connecting means comprising:

a rotatable socket cam releasably engaging the socket portion and spring means urging the cam and socket portion toward engagement, the cam and socket portion defining interengaging grooves and lobes permitting manual rotation of the socket portion relative 'to the cam by overcoming the spring means,

indexing means engaging the cam to prevent cam rotation when the socket is in a selected position, and

slip clutch means .to rotate the cam with film wind until engagement by the indexing means.

4. In a roll film camera having means to wind film to successively place frames of film on a picture taking axis, the combination comprising a rotatable socket portion to receive and retain a unitary package containing a plurality of photoflash lamps and individual reflectors in a fixed position relative thereto; and means operatively connecting the film wind means and socket Portion to operatively rotate the socket portion and received package through selected positions to successively place the photofiash lamps at a photoflash synchronizing circuit location with corresponding film frames for flashing the lamps in timed relation with camera operation, the operative connecting means comprising: i

.a rotatable socket cam releasably engaging the socket portion,

indexing means engaging the cam to prevent cam rotation when the socket is in a selected position,

slip clutch means to rotate the cam with film wind until engagement by the indexing means,

means responsive to camera operation to release the indexing means from engagement with the .cam,

and means preventing reengagement of the indexing means until the next successive selected position of the socket portion and .corresponding lamp is at the photoflash circuit location.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein the indexing means comprises a pivotable pawl biased toward engagement with corresponding slot means defined by the cam, and the preventing means comprises means to move the pawl out of alignment with the slot means after release of the panel from engagement with the slot means.

6. For use with a roll film camera having a film winding mechanism, a flash advancement assembly comprising:

a rotatable socket portion having means to receive and retain for rotation therewith a multilamp photofla-sh package containing a plurality of lamps and individual reflectors, the socket being manually rotat able in response to manual rotation of a received package;

a movable socket cam and means releasably engaging the socket portion and cam to rotate the socket portion in response to cam movement through a plurality of preselected positions of flash operations, the engaging means being released in response to manual rotation of the socket portion;

clutch means operatively connecting the film winding mechanism and socket cam to move the socket cam and rotate the socket portion in response to film 6 wind;

indexing means engaging the socket cam to terminate movement of the socket cam when the socket portion has rotated to a preselected position of flash operation; and

3 means responsive to camera operation to disengage the indexing means and socket cam to permit further movement of the socket cam and socket portion in response to film wind.

7. The flash advancement assembly according to claim 6 wherein the socket cam is rotatable and defines a plurality of stop means corresponding to the preselected positions, and the indexing means comprises a movable metering pawl engageable with a selected stop means to terminate movement of the socket cam.

8. The flash advancement mechanism according to claim '7 wherein the indexing means further comprises means to move the metering pawl out of alignment with the engaged stop means upon disengagement in response to camera operation, the movement out of alignment placing the pawl in position to engage the next succeeding stop means upon further movement of the socket cam.

9. In a roll film camera, a compact flash advancement mechanism comprising:

a rotatable socket portion having means to receive and retain a multilamp photoflash package containing a plurality of lamps and individual reflectors,

a rotatable film drive gear for winding film to place successive frames of film on a picture taking axis, the drive gear defining an annular bearing surface on a face thereof;

a socket drive gear coaxial with the film drive gear and rotatable with the filrn drive gear;

a driven gear meshing with the socket drive gear and defining a friction surface;

a driving plate defining a friction surface engageable with the gear friction surface;

a shaft defining the axis of rotation of the plate having one end positioned in the annular bearing surface of the film drive gear, the shaft being fixed to the plate for rotation therewith;

a socket cam fixed to the other-end of the shaft for rotation therewith;

.detent means engaging the cam and socket portion for simultaneous rotation; and

indexing means operatively engageable with the cam to terminate rotation of the socket in response to the film drive gear when the socket portion is located in one of a plurality'of predetermined rotational flash positions in which one lamp of a retained package is in a photoflash circuit.

10. The flash mechanism according to claim 9 and further comprising means to disengage the indexing means with camera operation to permit further rotation of the socket portion for location in the next successive position.

11. The flash mechanism according to claim 10 wherein the indexing means includes means to prevent re-engagement after camera operation until the socket portion is located in its next successive position.

12. The flash mechanism according to claim 9 wherein the detent means comprises yieldable means to permit manual rotation of the socket portion relative to the cam.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,384,327 9/ 1945 Mendelsohn 2401.3 2,864,938 12/1958 Shaw et al. 240-l.3 X 3,087,318 4/1963 Oswold 95-11 'X 3,096,025 7/ 1963 Prochnow 240-l.3 3,107,862 10/1963 Moore et a1 240--1.3 3,244,087 4/1966 Anderson et al 95-11 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

FRED L. BRAUN, Assistant Examiner. 

4. IN A ROLL FILM CAMERA HAVING MEANS TO WIND FILM TO SUCCESSIVELY PLACE FRAMES OF FILM ON A PICTURE TAKING AXIS, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A ROTATABLE SOCKET PORTION TO RECEIVE AND RETAIN A UNITARY PACKAGE CONTAINING A PLURALITY OF PHOTOFLASH LAMPS AND INDIVIDUAL REFLECTORS IN A FIXED POSITION RELATIVE THERETO; AND MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING THE FILM WIND MEANS AND SOCKET PORTION TO OPERATIVELY ROTATE THE SOCKET PORTION AND RECEIVED PACKAGE THROUGH SELECTED POSITIONS TO SUCCESSIVELY PLACE THE PHOTOFLASH LAMPS AT A PHOTOFLASH SYNCHRONIZING CIRCUIT LOCATION WITH CORRESPONDING FILM FRAMES FOR FLASHING THE LAMPS IN TIMED RELATION WITH CAMERA OPERATION, THE OPERATIVE CONNECTING MEANS COMPRISING: A ROTATABLE SOCKET CAM RELEASABLY ENGAGING THE SOCKET PORTION, INDEXING MEANS ENGAGING THE CAM TO PREVENT CAM ROTATION WHEN THE SOCKET IS IN A SELECTED POSITION, SLIP CLUTCH MEANS TO ROTATE THE CAM WITH FILM WIND UNTIL ENGAGEMENT BY THE INDEXING MEANS, MEANS RESPONSIVE TO CAMERA OPERATION TO RELEASE THE INDEXING MEANS FROM ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CAM, AND MEANS PREVENTING REENGAGEMENT OF THE INDEXING MEANS UNTIL THE NEXT SUCCESSIVE SELECTED POSITION OF THE SOCKET PORTION AND CORRESPONDING LAMP IS AT THE PHOTOFLASH CIRCUIT LOCATION. 